Audio or visual output (a/v) devices registering with a wireless hub system

Abstract

A plurality of heterogenous speakers playing audio in multiple zones that form a first zone using a first subset of the plurality of heterogenous speakers and form a second zone using a second subset of the plurality of heterogenous speakers. Further, determine a first audio configuration of the first zone and determine a second audio configuration of the second zone. Receive audio from a source device in a first format and play the audio in the first zone using the first subset of the plurality of heterogenous speakers. If determined, that the first format is not compatible with the second audio configuration, downmix the audio based on the second audio configuration to form a downmixed audio signal, and play the downmixed audio signal in the second zone using the second subset of the plurality of heterogenous speakers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of playing audio in multiple zones, the method comprising:
 forming a first zone using a first subset of a plurality of heterogenous speakers;   forming a second zone using a second subset of the plurality of heterogenous speakers;   determining a first audio configuration of the first zone;   determining a second audio configuration of the second zone;   receiving audio from a source device in a first format;   playing the audio in the first zone using the first subset of the plurality of heterogenous speakers; and   in response to determining that the first format is not compatible with the second audio configuration:   downmixing the audio based on the second audio configuration to form a downmixed audio signal, and   playing the downmixed audio signal in the second zone using the second subset of the plurality of heterogenous speakers.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the playing the audio in the first zone using and the playing the playing the downmixed audio signal in the second are performed concurrently. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , where the first subset contains at least one subwoofer. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the source device is a music source, TV, game system, or a CD player. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first format is a multichannel audio format. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first audio configuration has a larger number of speakers than the second audio configuration. 
     
     
         7 . A plurality of heterogenous speakers playing audio in multiple zones, comprising:
 form a first zone using a first subset of the plurality of heterogenous speakers;   form a second zone using a second subset of the plurality of heterogenous speakers;   determine a first audio configuration of the first zone;   determine a second audio configuration of the second zone;   receive audio from a source device in a first format;   play the audio in the first zone using the first subset of the plurality of heterogenous speakers; and   in response, determine that the first format is not compatible with the second audio configuration:   downmix the audio based on the second audio configuration to form a downmixed audio signal, and   play the downmixed audio signal in the second zone using the second subset of the plurality of heterogenous speakers.   
     
     
         8 . The plurality of a heterogenous speakers of  claim 7 , wherein the playing the audio in the first zone using and the playing the playing the downmixed audio signal in the second are performed concurrently. 
     
     
         9 . The plurality of a heterogenous speakers of  claim 7 , where the first subset contains at least one subwoofer. 
     
     
         10 . The plurality of a heterogenous speakers of  claim 7 , wherein the source device is a music source, TV, game system, or a CD player. 
     
     
         11 . The plurality of a heterogenous speakers of  claim 7 , wherein the first format is a multichannel audio format. 
     
     
         12 . The plurality of heterogenous speakers of  claim 7 , wherein the first audio configuration has a larger number of speakers than the second audio configuration. 
     
     
         13 . At least one non-transient computer readable medium containing program instructions for causing a plurality of heterogenous speakers playing audio in multiple zones, a method comprising:
 forming a first zone using a first subset of a plurality of heterogenous speakers;   forming a second zone using a second subset of the plurality of heterogenous speakers;   determining a first audio configuration of the first zone;   determining a second audio configuration of the second zone;   receiving audio from a source device in a first format;   playing the audio in the first zone using the first subset of the plurality of heterogenous speakers; and   in response to determining that the first format is not compatible with the second audio configuration:   downmixing the audio based on the second audio configuration to form a downmixed audio signal, and   playing the downmixed audio signal in the second zone using the second subset of the plurality of heterogenous speakers.   
     
     
         14 . The at least one non-transient computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the playing the audio in the first zone using and the playing the playing the downmixed audio signal in the second are performed concurrently. 
     
     
         15 . The at least one non-transient computer readable medium of  claim 13 , where the first subset contains at least one subwoofer. 
     
     
         16 . The at least one non-transient computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the source device is a music source, TV, game system, or a CD player. 
     
     
         17 . The at least one non-transient computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the first format is a multichannel audio format. 
     
     
         18 . The at least one non-transient computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the first audio configuration has a larger number of speakers than the second audio configuration.